I see some of you rereading IASWAD & IASWH & it's literally the sweetest thing ever to me! 😭 Thank you!❤️

ALSO a minor, not too minor update : I changed Levi's description in both IASWAD & IASWH from blonde hair, blue eyes, to dark brown hair, and green eyes! I feel as if that fits him better for some reason, lol. Raven, I switched to red hair, and hazel eyes!

"I fell in love with her courage, her sincerity, and her flaming self respect. And it's these things I'd believe in, even if the whole world indulged in wild suspicions that she wasn't all she should be. I love her and it is the beginning of everything." – F. Scott Fitzgerald (love this full quote❤️.)
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Chapter 67
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Maggie

I sent a quick smile to the doctors and nurses as I passed them. I heard some of them try to catch Luke's attention about his father, but he remained quiet, instead tightening his hand around mine and leading us through the busy hallway.

"Are you okay?" I heard him ask from my side.

"As okay as the last fifty times you've asked."

Luke ignored my comment, his eyes digging over my figure for any sign of detriment. "The answer could have changed between then and now." When I rolled my eyes, he frowned. "If you get tired or lightheaded, please tell me, okay? I'm not kidding, Maggie. If you even get the smallest headache, I want to know—"

Chuckling, I pulled him into the elevator with me. "I told you I'm fine. The doctors have checked me a million times over."

Luke leaned against the elevator wall with a turnt mouth, crossing his arms back at me. Concern etched over his face the longer he examined me over. Even though I didn't have a concussion from the wreck, I did end up having to get stitches from some of the shards of glass.

Pressing the button to my grandmother's floor, I said, "I promise I'll tell you if I think something's wrong or if I'm feeling weird." Attempting to hide a chuckle, I stretched a hand out for him, which he took in his. "I swear."

Luke nibbled on his cheek for a moment before nodding. Lifting my hand to his lips, my smile grew at the kiss he left to my palm, as well as the tingly skin left behind.

"Fine." Gently, he tugged me to him by that same hand, then locked his around my waist. "Thank you."

My smile softened at him before I shrugged. "You're not at all welcome."

Tipping his chin, a grin pulled at the corners of his lips. "Not even a little bit, huh?" I laughed at the use of my own words against me, retorting, "Absolutely not."

His hands squeezed at my waist until I thought it was perfectly molded just for his. I wouldn't doubt the claim if made.

His grin grew before he craned his neck to kiss my head. "We have to go and pick up your meds, but the pharmacy doesn't close until seven, so take all the time you need."

I nodded, locking the information in. "Got it."

After the doctors cleared me, I was discharged from the hospital, along with Kimberly and Raven. The girls claimed that they were fine, but nonetheless, the guilt remained just the same. I should have never put them in that situation.

Luke had tried to talk the idea out of my head, but it was difficult. It was a cause and effect, and the cause remained on me.

Neither girl seemed to hold any anger, or blame toward me, though. Not a bit. They were more worried about me and if I were hurt rather than anything else.

It made me happy. It made me hopeful.

As Kimberly had said, they cared about and loved me. A lot.

Hopefully, that same value would remain when they found out everything. I had never wanted anything more, honestly.

They told me that they were going to the mountains, too. The house was a couple of hours away, deep in the trees, with three floors, and a number of other things that would ensure a comforting and enjoyable stay.

Luke and Kade, though...a part of me was skeptical about having them in the same space after what happened. Levi had reassured that they fought like that all of the time, but seeing it up close was terrifying.

Every time we were all in the same room, the tension was beyond thick. Neither man said a word to one another, but the moment they even barely crossed glares, it looked as if they were wanting to go another round that same very second.

Kimberly and I had tried to ease it, but with their tempers and stubborn attitudes, it was nearly impossible. We decided to just allow more time for tensions to settle.

I had called Jax to tell him about the accident, and once the words were out, he was already trying to book a flight back into town, but I managed to stop him. After a list of given reassurances from all me, Luke, and the doctor, he finally settled back down.

I played the trip off as just that, too. Something random that he seemed to fall for. I wished the timing didn't overlap the way it did, since he would have only made the trip better with his presence.

Before leaving for the mountains, though, I wanted to visit granny. I hadn't seen her in a while, and we sadly hadn't been in the same hospital, either. I just wanted to say goodbye formally, as well as seeing her sweet face.

Luke kept his hand to the small of my back as we walked, moving it in small strokes. My feet were slow, and still a bit disoriented because of the leg pain from the wreck, but I was fine, overall.

I did my triple, double, then single knock along the door before my hand fell to the handle. I paused at the silence that followed.

Luke shot me an odd glance. "What is it?"

"Usually, she responds, but..." My mind dipped under the curiosity until I shrugged it off. "She could have just called it an early night, but I just want to check first."

Once I pulled the door open, my eyes landed in the center of the room.

Granny was resting in the bed, as usual. Black hair, mixed in along with gray strands, flowed over her shoulders gracefully. A blanket was already covering her, but she wasn't asleep by the way her high cheekbones raised at the sight of me.

My frown was pushed over by a smile. I wasn't exactly sure why she hadn't answered, but at least she was awake.

"Hey, pretty lady," I said, softly. "Why didn't you answer me?"

Her slender arm stretched to beckon me further. My steps didn't stop I was in front of my grandmother.

"I'm sorry, sunshine," she apologized around a sigh, her eyes crinkling at the corners when she smiled. "I must've not hear you. You know how deep I dive into these daydreams of mine."

I nodded at that. I wouldn't think too hard on it. She was fine.

Luke scooted a seat out for me, waiting until I was sat before he took his own next to me. His hand reached for mine while his smile went to my grandmother. "It's nice to see you, again, Mrs. Reeves."

"And, you, sweet grandson-in-law of mine," she greeted, already beaming at him. "I told you to call me Dixie, though. Anything else just makes me feel ancient."

Luke chuckled, nodding. "My apologies, ma'am." Once he placed her bag of gifts to her side, granny's smile lit up, as she already knew the contents inside., "You know, if you ever wanna visit without my granddaughter, you do that anytime, honey, you understand me?"

Luke passed me a cocky grin, one in which I rolled my eyes at. "Yes ma'am."

I pushed him back by his chest, earning a chuckle before I looked back to my grandmother. "How have you been, granny?"

"Perfect," she responded, smiling softly at me. Her eyes fell to her bag for a fleeting second. "Doctors had a little message for me, but I didn't let it get me down none. Not when I knew I was seeing my beautiful babies so soon. Your brother was just here the other day with Tony and fresh brownie bites for me."

Despite the ending, I found myself focusing on a certain bit of information. "What kind of message?"

Her eyes flickered up to mine. It was as if she hadn't realized her saying until it was too late. With a casual smile, she waved it off.

"Nothing for you to dim about, sunshine," she dismissed. "Now. Tell me how you've been, baby. Both of you."

We all continued to talk, but I knew that granny definitely had a favorite. She threw her nicest smiles to Luke, who continued to mark me with his cockiness along the way. As annoyed as I pretended to be, I marked the adorable sight as one of my favorites. Two of my favorite people getting along perfectly with one another.

Since Kimberly and Raven had been gone for so long, it had been awhile since she seen them. Nonetheless, she loved them as if they were her daughters too, just as they did her.

"Oh, I love those girls," she awed, smiling into the air. "So pretty and sweet."

My lips lifted. "They love you just as much, too."

Granny sent Luke a knowing look. "My girl hasn't destroyed your car yet, has she?" She always loved to hear the incident between Levi and Raven since it sent her into a round of giggles every single time.

I raised a brow at her. "Yet?"

Luke chuckled, sitting up in his chair. "No ma'am, not yet, thankfully."

I whipped my head at him. "Not yet?"

I guess it was half-true, considering I destroyed his building. Granny didn't need to know that, though.

Both of them laughed, only deepening my scowl. Assholes.

I reached over her bed to grasp her hand. "I'll make sure to bring the girls by as soon as we're home."

When I told her about the trip, I passed it off as just that, just as I had Jax. Luckily, she didn't ask questions, and seemed more ecstatic than anything that I was going away for a while.

Granny's smile cracked at my statement. I wasn't sure if she meant to let it happen, but it did. My smile fell with it.

Shaking her head, her eyes slipped up to mine at the same time that her smile did. "Make sure you do, baby. I can't wait." Her eyes flickered over Luke, who seemed to have caught the lack in her tone, as well.

I glanced at him to catch him already watching me, an understanding look in his eyes as he squeezed my hand. "I'm gonna go and get the car, okay?"

Leaning over, I pecked him on the cheek. "Mhm. I'll be there in a minute."

His encouraging smile made way into my nervous one. "Take your time, Norris." After him and granny said their farewells, he was leaving.

I turned to face granny, again, who had erased any suspicion from herself. Now, she wore a warm smile that nearly had me forgetting my concerns as it usually did.

"Is everything okay?" I asked, softly.

"Everything's fine, baby. Perfect as can be, honestly."

Scooting closer, my uncertainty remained. Just as I went to further investigate, granny cut me off with a squeeze to the hand.

"Let me talk to you about something, Maggie," she requested, turning to face me fully. With all of the IVs, it was impossible to move too far, but she managed.

"About what?"

A light, tired sigh fell from her. It made my stomach turn in retaliation.

"You and your brother have always been my babies. My whole world, really," she said, softly. "You know that, right?"

I tried to maintain my natural position, nodding at her in return.

"You know..." The corner of her mouth quirked up. "I still remember meeting you for the first time. When I saw you at court, alongside your brother. You were such a little smart ass."

I laughed at that. "I can't deny it."

Her own followed mine. "I remember taking you both home that day. Your brother refused to let you go until I told him that I put your rooms side by side. I asked you if you liked the sheets I bought you, or if you wanted new ones and you told me that it didn't matter because you were going to—"

"Strangle me with them in my sleep, anyway," we both said in union, our laughter mingling until I said, "I did."

"I stayed up all night just thinking about you. That next morning, I woke up so excited just to see you, again. I'd never been so anxious just to be threatened, before. You kept up with them for about a month or two." A grin cocked her lips. "Each one was less graphic than the one before, which Jax told me meant that you were warming up to me. At least I hope."

"I was," I said, smiling. It was true.

"Goodness," she hummed, squeezing my hand. "From then on out though, I knew I had a spitball on my hands. You reminded me so much of myself at that age, baby."

"But..." she cleared her throat. "I know that you didn't get that way on your own—"

I knew where she was going with this. Shaking my head, I gave a weak smile. "You don't have to, granny."

She shook my words off, her jaw going slack with a sigh. "I want to, baby."

There was no going back, now. I knew that.

"Maggie," she whispered, meeting my eyes. An apology echoed through the room before she even voiced it. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

I'd heard her and Jax's apologies many, many times over for all that happened, and every single time left me just as emotional. And if not that, then in refusal.

I didn't blame her. I didn't blame Jax. I never had. I could never blame the people who saved me.

"Granny," I said, softly. "You don't have a thing to apologize for."

Her eyes twinkled back at me with tears. "I do," she whispered back. "I should have looked into your mother's doings more than I did. I should have known about and found you and your brother. I should have helped you."

"Granny, you did help me..." My eyes dipped to the hospital tiles. "You were the first person to ever teach me so much. You were the one to teach me to turn my weakness into strength. You were..." I raised my gaze to hers, attempting a smile through the tears. "You were every single thing I wanted my mother to be. You were my mother, Granny."

"Maggie." Tears slipped over her cheeks, slowly. "My magnificent girl."

I used my free hand to swipe at my eyes, sniffling. "It's true. I-I know that I haven't been the best to you or Jax, but—"

"Nonsense," she dismissed in a soft voice. "You changed my life, Maggie. I know you know it. I know that you think I mean negatively, but that is the most falsest thing in this world. Instead, you gave me hope and strength. Pride. You gave me all of the beauties in the world by just by being In it. You gave me it all, baby."

My free hand tightened around my knee at that. Just hearing the words made my world tilt a bit.

Her smile softened at me. "I've always loved you the way you are, baby. I've always understood you. Even if I didn't, I tried to, because I know—" Her words were dismantled as a small cough wracked her body.

Just as it ended, it started up again, this time with a harder, breathier edge to it. Her body trembled under the weight of it all as she stroked at her reddening chest.

I stood up. "I'll go and get the doctors."

Her coughs had died down enough to form words, again. She waved me off, offering a sweet smile.

"Don't," she argued, tugging me back to her. "I want it to be us. Just me and you."

Unsure, I glanced to the door, then back to her. With a nod, I sunk back into my chair, and pulled it closer to her bedside.

"It'll always be us," I reassured, cupping her hand into mine.

"I suppose you do have to credit someone for this pretty face of yours," she teased, lines in her forehead creasing under a laugh before it settled, a loving expression on, "You'll never stop shining, sunshine. Not for me. Not for anyone, you know that?"

I nodded. My smile floated loosely, but with the weight behind it, I struggled to keep it intact.

"I don't want you to let that go," she mumbled along. "I don't want you to ever hold yourself back from shining as bright as you can. Your father...he tried to rip that from you, but he lost, Maggie. He lost." Her eyes twinkled with pride. "You're still here. You're still living. You're still smiling. Hell, you're about to go out to the mountains with a lovely group of friends that you call family. That." Her fingers tilted my chin up until she had my eyes. "That's you winning, Maggie. Every single day is just another page added to your book of successes."

My lips parted, but nothing came out, because there was something else here, already. It's significance had changed the air in the room. Every inhale felt like a much stronger exhale, instead.

"Maggie," she whispered, slowly pushing herself closer. "Don't you dim. Don't miss out on certain things. Any of it." Her hand fell to my wrist, squeezing. "I've seen how you look at that young man of yours. How he looks at you. How you two talk and act around each other. I've never seen you so free, and so happy and trusting before it. And, I've never been so happy to witness you two, something so beautiful blossom right in front of me."

"Wherever life may take you..." a gentle smile upped her lips. "You don't hold back. You take the risks. You keep living it. You keep loving it. You keep on keeping on, because that's what you've always done and will only continue to do, okay?"

At this point, my face was warm and slick with tears that were having no mercy on me.

She had hopes for me. Hopes that I had hoped and begged I'd find one day. Hopes that I think, maybe, I did. And if I hadn't, then for the first time, I was willing to try.

I met her patient eyes that were red, too. I blinked past the burning in mine, attempting to clear my vision to have sight of her.

"I promise I will, Granny," I whispered back.

Her thumb swept over my chin as she nodded, smiling. Something seemed to blanket over her expression, leaving a satisfied, prideful shadow.

"Now," she started up, again, swiping at her rosy cheeks. Glistening eyes ran me over from the bottom up, as if she were trying to frame a picture of me in her head from that alone. "You keep that beautiful smile of yours up, and you go out there to my grandson-in-law. You let him love, learn, and care for you just as much as you do him, and you have the best time together. Go and enjoy the vacation, the moment, with your best friends, and don't worry about a thing else, okay?"

I nodded again, sniffling. My eyes fluttered shut as I leaned into her. I needed one of her warm hugs more than ever, right now.

In our embrace, I felt her light hand stroke at my back. She pressed a kiss to my cheek, squeezing me to the best of her ability.

As soon as I went to pull back, she stopped me with an extra squeeze, shaking her head. Since I didn't want to let go, either, I remained in our hug even longer.

"They're about to give me a higher dosage to get me to sleep quicker. You know how foggy my mind gets with that shit," she sighed into a chuckle. "I just want an extra minute to remember my sunshine's sweet hugs, though."

I chuckled at her, no longer even attempting to fight the tears. "I do give the best, don't I?"

"You're damn right."

When we pulled back, both of our faces were slick and clouded with the heights of our emotions.

A gentle light hovered over her face as she stared back at me. "I need you to get out, now, baby." She stroked through my hair, humored. "As much as I love you, you know my soap operas hold the number one spot in my heart."

I laughed, feeling my bumpy ride of a chest relax into a natural state. The conversation had reverted back to a soothing form, but the weight of our words still remained in the air.

I stood up, leaning down to press another kiss to granny's cheek.

A sweet smile awaited me when I came back up. "I love you, magnificent girl of mine. Always."

"I love you, pretty lady. Forever." Once I flicked at the light switch, I turned to face her, again. I still had a good view of her from the lights outside. "Sweet dreams, granny."

"I'll have the best dreams of my life, baby," she swore, her face light with a jocund cover. Her smile softened over at me. "The absolute best, sunshine."

The ride down to ground level was quick, or maybe it wasn't. I wasn't too sure, honestly. I was too stuck on everything she said.

Out of the many, many things I loved about granny, I knew which one stood out most. Her belief in me. Despite me giving her every single reason not to have it, she still did.

I didn't understand it, but for the first time, I wanted to. I wanted to live up to them, not only for myself but for her, too.

Granny had taken Jax and I in when she didn't have to. Her life had been as carefree as could be before us. A big house, no responsibilities or obligations other than herself. Then all of a sudden, she was being thrown a pair of ten year old, violent and traumatized twins that had somehow beaten death. One of those twins was prepared to wreck any and everything, including herself in order to finally feel something. Everyone around my grandmother knew it was a mix for disaster, except her.

Even when her friends told her that it would be best to dump us into the system, she refused. The court offered to take me off of her hands and told her that she could just keep Jax if she wanted, but she didn't listen. Even when I was letting my anger out in the worst ways possible, she hadn't given up on me.

I owed her my life. And if not that, then I owed her an oath that I would actually try to live it. I planned to. I wanted to.

Luke was waiting right in front of his car for me with his phone in hand. At the sound of the sensor-motion doors, his head raised.

A cute smile found it's way to his lips, immediately. "Hey, beautiful..." The smile slowly fell at my face. The moment he caught it, he slipped his phone back into his pocket, then walked over to me.

"Hey," he said more softly this time. A frown tugged at his lips in concern. "What's wrong, angel?" Gently, he pulled me into him, locking me into his chest. "Talk to me."

I sighed into his shirt, my eyes fluttering shut. "Granny and I talked, but it was a little off, honestly."

"Yeah?" He pulled back until we had view of each other. He lifted a brow in curiosity. "How so?"

My eyes fell to the concrete in thought. I wasn't sure if I had an answer, or if I could think of one. I wasn't even sure if there were anything to think of at all.

My shoulders bounced in a shrug once I came up short. "It's probably nothing. She did say they gave her stronger meds, so that's probably why."

Luke nodded, stroking the side of my face with his finger. "You're probably right. I'm sure everything's fine."

I nodded, sighing again. Once we fully parted, I craned my neck to pass him a smile. "Ready?"

At this, his smile grew until it couldn't. "Fuck yeah."

When we were both in, he took off in the direction of the pharmacy, which wasn't too far from the hospital. We had already packed our bags, and locked up the house, so everything was good there.

We had left Fang at a kennel that Luke claimed only seemed to spoil him even more. When I saw pictures of Fang with a treat hanging in the corner of his mouth while lounging inside of a bubble bath full of toys, I knew it to be true.

In no time, we were at the pharmacy pick-up window to get my medication, to with Luke placed next to my feet, then took off. We were on our way to the mountains, now.

I reached into my pocket for my phone. As soon as I had it in hand, I tapped at the screen, but it remained black.

Hell. I didn't charge it.

I lifted my head, and saw something out of the corner of my eye. Luke was dangling a charger cable, and a portable in front of me. He sported a big, cocky grin that made me roll my eyes.

"You're such a smart ass," I grumbled, snatching the charger from him, anyway.

"I know my girl, Norris." His laugh teased at the strums of my heart, the car slowing under his foot as he took a turn. "I tried charging it for you when you fell asleep, but you nearly snapped my wrist in half the second I tried getting up."

I rolled my eyes at his exaggerations. "I didn't."

"Mhm, see." He offered his arm out to me. "Look. Claw marks and all on the motherfucker."

I snatched his wrist with a scowl, turning it in all possible directions. There was nothing there, but his bullshit.

I rolled my eyes. "You know what I see?"

"Is it a 'thank you, Luke for being so considerate?'"

"In your dreams, pretty boy."

"As long as you're there first, angel."

"You're getting a thank you, but that's it." Ignoring the rush of heat in my cheeks, I hurried and plugged my phone in. I needed to text Jax back, since I swore to reassure him of my wellness. I had to answer the girls, as well. I had felt my phone buzz a couple of times in the hospital, so I knew it was one of the three.

Kimberly had told me over the phone that Kade was just as persistent in his anger as Luke. Both men were stubborn as shit, but she said that he swore to be peaceful on the trip.

I reassured that I'd ask it of Luke, as well. We were all going to have to be around each other for the next couple of days. With everything else that had already happened, I didn't want to have to worry about two huge ass men tearing the place up, too.

I shifted in my seat until I was facing Luke. We were in my Mercedes. My head was fine, but I was still groggy from the medication and some of the cuts still hurt, so I let him have the drive.

"Luke."

His eyes shifted over to mine.

I wrapped a hand around his bicep, curling it under the fabric of his shirt to reach his skin. The inked, thick muscle molded into my hand, perfectly. Squeezing, I gave way to the sweetest smile I could.

Luke caught it all. His eyes bounced between my hand, then my smile, then back to mine, before  narrowing at me in suspicion.

"Maggie," he said, slowly. "What are you up to?"

"Not a thing, really." I dropped my hand from his arm, instead moving it to his jaw. My smile only grew. "I just wanted to talk to you about something."

"Whatever it is, I'm not falling for it," he argued, despite the lean into my palm. "So, don't even try it."

"I know but...I was just wanting to ask you for peace in the mountains." I sighed into my next statement, "I know you and Kade are still tense, but I don't want you two fighting the entire time, either. Could you at least try to be cordial?"

Luke's jaw tightened in my palm. His expression glazed over with the same sour paste from the moment of the fight with Kade, before he replaced it with annoyance.

With an eye roll, he shifted in his seat and shook his head. "Fuck that and fuck him."

I sighed. "Please? We're going to have be in the same space for a while. I just want peace."

Luke snorted. "Maggie, there's no way in hell that I'm ever gonna just sit there while..." His words trailed off as he glanced my way.

The plea in my expression slowly cracked through his hardened one. Then, I saw his gaze soften just enough.

Jerking his eyes away from mine, he mumbled a curse then, "If I hear him even breathe a word of disrespect toward you, Maggie, I can't promise that I won't knock the shit right out of his mouth, but until then..." His jaw rolled, again, before he grumbled out a begrudging oath, "For you...I'll be peaceful."

"And, cordial?" I added, just to tease him.

His gaze shifted into a glare, switching between me and the road. "Peaceful is all you're getting—"

I leaned over to peck his cheek. "Please?"

He tried to avoid my eyes, but they flickered over to mine anyway, and I saw his hardened edge slip at it. With another curse, he huffed, deepening his glare on the road.

"And, cordial," he sighed out.

Laughter rolled in my stomach at him. It was still a promise of peace, though, so I'd take it.

Even with his grumpy exterior, he continued to stroke at my hand as he drove. My humor remained in place at him until I saw the screen of my phone light up with another text from Jax.

My heart flipped in my chest just at seeing his contact. Text messages were small, but they were important, as was anything related to my brother, now. I knew it wasn't the same as all else, but hopefully it could help lead to it, again.

The car began to slow from under me. I looked up to see that we had stopped at a gas station.

I moved my confusion to Luke. "I thought you filled the tank up this morning."

He took the key out of the ignition. "I did. I just wanted to stop by here to get snacks. The drive's gonna be long as shit, and I didn't want you to be hungry."

A familiar weight collapsed my chest into itself. I knew I only fell for him more every day, honestly. If not that, then definitely every second. There were no exceptions.

I reached over the gear shift to grab his hand. "How about a game?"

"Tell me."

"We go in and we split up," I suggested, glancing over the building, again. There were only around five cars around the small space. "You go and get my favorite snacks, and I go and get yours."

A big, childlike grin illuminated his face as he nodded. "Fuck yeah." The gleam of excitement in his eyes made me laugh. "Whoever gets to the front of the store first wins."

I cocked my eyebrow at him. "I never said that it was a competition, Luke."

"You never said that it wasn't, either."

Hurriedly, we rushed into the gas station. The isles were separated, and labeled above head with big, white boards, pasted with black lettered shortcuts of their contents below, which would make this much easier.

I squeezed his hand. "Good luck, Palce."

Luke chuckled, pulling me to him to peck my lips. I melted into it, and his squeeze to my waist only added to my euphoria. "I don't even need it, Norris."

To the speed of lightning, he released me only to rush off to the candy isle, first.

Amused, I turned to the snack isle since he liked those more than sweets. I honestly didn't even really care about winning, but I rushed, anyway. It would be fun to rub a victory in his face.

I didn't stop gathering his snacks, even after my arms were full. A part of me was worried about it being too much, but by the crinkling a couple of isles over in the quiet store, I knew Luke wasn't doing much better.

I glanced over the section for one last thing—cereal cups. As odd as it was, I did find it cute when I sometimes found Luke munching on them in the morning hours without any milk inside.

I grabbed one, and a hand brushed along my side. I awaited the routinely butterflies from that simple act alone, but none came.

As strange as it was, I shrugged it off, a grin marking my face so deep, it seemed criminal to lose it. "I expected better—"

Familiar black eyes stared back into mine, full of surprise and hesitation. My own soon matched it once I raised my gaze to the chestnut hair my hands used to be tangled in once upon a hell ago. "What are you doing here?"

Xander tried to wipe his surprise off, but failed miserably. It took him a couple long seconds of blinking before he finally gave a sensible answer.

"I was just heading to work," he said. "Needed to stop for some gas, and some other things..." When my eyes dipped, he shuffled some of the items around in order to hide them from my view.

It was too late, though. I saw the condoms on top of the stack before he pushed them back.

"Work, huh?" With a humored chuckle, I nodded. "Sounds real familiar."

It was strange, though. Really strange.

The gas station was a forty minute or so ride from town, but then again, Xander and Quinn weren't allowed to get a job in town any longer thanks to Luke and I. That could have been why he was here.

I just found it strange that out of all of the gas stations, he was here. And that he thought it was okay to try talking to me.

Rolling back my suspicions, I met his eyes, again. I didn't want this conversation to even have the chance of turning into that.

"Tell Quinn I said hello," I chuckled out, motioning toward the box of condoms.

As unexpected as it was, I genuinely didn't feel a drop of jealousy or malignancy. Despite how much the betrayal hurt, and despite how much I hated the both of them individually, it all turned out for the best.

I still remembered the day Luke came over after I found out Xander and Quinn. How persistent he'd been on proving to me that it wasn't my fault. How he said that Xander had only set me free to find the one who truly deserved me.

Turns out, it was more than true.

Except, neither of us expected for him to be talking about himself, but the universe had had a good laugh at turning Luke and I into the biggest hypocrites in the world, now.

I had him, my most favorite, and my most me person in the world as mine, now. Luke was mine as I his, and I didn't care to know anything beyond that or him. My boy.

Anything before that, and him held absolutely no significance to me. It didn't made what it was, or who they were. If anything, a part of me was grateful that I had seen the worst of Xander in order to get here. I would do it, and experience it all over again in order to end up with my Luke.

I swiveled around to exit the conversation, but then I heard Xander call out, "Quinn and I aren't together."

That was a shock, but I pushed by it, grabbing another cereal bowl for Luke. "Did I give the impression that I actually gave a shit or something?"

"No, but..." he sighed, heavily. "Quinn and I haven't talked since you walked in on us. I knew it wouldn't be right, and I didn't it to ruin me getting another chance with you—"

I nearly choked on my spit at that. "Another chance?"

Started by my response, the color in his cheeks was milked out. In a nod, curls bounced all over the place, dark eyes settling on me.

"I mean...hopefully, yeah. I know I fucked up, and I know that it's been months, but I still think about you, Maggie. I think about you, and us all of the time. I still love you." He sighed, fixating his gaze on me. "Quinn...it, she, was a mistake. One that I shouldn't have, and never will make, again, if you—"

"Okay, let me save you the humiliation." I snorted over a chuckle. "Because, that's what you're doing. You're humiliating yourself by even thinking that you'd be worth my time, again when you were barely even worth it the first time."

A hand fell from his pile of items, shoving through his chestnut strands at my argument. A look of frustration rolled over his expression before allowing hope in its place. It nearly had me cackling with its sincerity.

"With everything that happened, I haven't really gotten the chance to apologize, or to prove myself to you, but..." As soon as he stepped closer, I took that same one back. He hesitated, but continued his speech, anyway, "Listen, I shouldn't have hurt you like that. My jealousy got the best of me when I saw how close you and Luke were getting. I know how bad that excuse sounds, but you weren't seeing it all like I was, Maggie. I saw the pictures of you two all close at that event, or whatever it was. You were smiling and laughing, and dancing all close together. I saw the way he looked and talked to you, and then Quinn had gotten into my head before that about you and him, and—"

I couldn't stop myself from laughing, now. It flowed right out, full of humor and disbelief. I finally cooled it down to get out, "She did?"

"Yeah, but I take responsibility. I should have listened to you, and not her—"

"No," I chuckled, waving it off. "You definitely should have listened to her."

Rather it be him trying to feed me bullshit reasoning when he had cheated way before Luke and I even crossed real paths, or him trying to blame someone else for his own wrongdoings. It was all hilarious.

His hopeful face fell. "What do you mean?"

"What I mean is that the man you were worried about? The one you claimed was the "reason" you fucked and continued to fuck my friend behind my back?" I shrugged, a smile on. "Is my boyfriend, now."

"What?" he spurted, mouth agape. "You and Luke are—"

"Of course they are."

Both of our eyes raised at the third intrusion of the day.

Quinn was only a couple of feet away, wearing a smile that made me want to walk away mid-glance. Instead, I held my position, marking my face with boredom.

An arm went around Xander's waist, drawing him into her. Her hazel eyes traced over mine, filling with a cockiness of no other.

"What's up, Maggie?" she smiled sweetly, despite the intent behind it. "How have you been, girl?"

I wasn't falling for it. She wanted me to be upset about what I was seeing, but it was hard when I genuinely had nothing to be upset over. "Fine, you?"

"Xander and I have been amazing," she gloated, squeezing Xander, whose face had gone red either from the fact that he'd been caught lying red-handed about their relationship, or the fact that I was with Luke.

I chuckled at her attempt. "You sure about that?"

Cherry red pasted lips tugged into a cross between a frown and a scowl. "What's that supposed to mean?"

My smirk grew as I glanced between the two. Luke was a couple of isles away, from what I could hear. I had to make this quick, both for my own sanity, and to save Xander a heart attack if Luke comes around that corner.

"Nothing." I shrugged with the same smile. "I'm happy for you both, honestly. Keep up with this beautiful, beautiful relationship, okay?"

I knew she caught my snark by her eye roll. Her scowl morphed into a cocky grin the moment she returned to me.

I turned to exit the conversation, my amused smile in place. I didn't feel any anger, since in order to do so, I'd have to actually care. I didn't have it in me to give two fucks about trash, honestly.

"We will," I heard her reply. "I know it must be a little weird for you, but I promise you'll find the same thing that we have in our relationship, in yours too one day."

I paused. I couldn't help myself. My preferred karma was in my fists, but I would refrain. They weren't worth the busted knuckles.

I had already beaten her ass once, and if I remembered correctly, had her in a corner, trembling like a little bitch, afterwards. As tempting as it was to repeat that day, I wasn't going to embarrass myself by fighting over a man that wasn't mine. Words would get my point across just fine.

Turning back around, I raised a brow at her. "Quinn."

Her smirk was still in place. "Yes?"

"Babe." I sighed, pleasingly. "One of our boys is in another isle, right now, getting his girl snacks and anything else she wants for a trip to the mountains, in the Mercedes that he just gave her for her birthday." I started to step back; the conversation was finished for me. "And, the other, who was just denying your lovely relationship's existence, is standing here, right now, looking stupid as shit after just begging and bitching for his ex to take him back." I shrugged, my lips rippling to the sky. "You pick which one is which, yeah?"

Her cockiness fell, widened eyes immediately going to Xander, who had gone ghost white. My smile only grew. I'd leave them alone to figure that shit out.

Just as I went to turn, an arm trapped my waist from behind. It squeezed down, and even without the familiar scent of him, I recognized its owner by the ripple of electricity up my backside.

I picked my head up, sending a smile Luke's way, something he returned, causing my butterflies to trigger before it fell into a frown. 

Luke marked my head with a kiss, and jerked a icy glare at Xander that I recognized, immediately. "You good, Norris?"

I nodded to reassure him, and squeezed his side. "I'm fine."

Quinn and Xander had gone silent at Luke's entrance. By the trepidation rolling over Xander's stuck face, I knew he was recalling the beating he took, and how close another one was now if he misstepped.

Luke's arm raised to my shoulders, tugging me under his tall stature until he made the message clear. His glare dug into Xander, specifically, and in it, I could see the itch of violence teasing his demeanor, but I shoved it down.

Once I squeezed his hand, he returned to me. I smiled up at him. "Ready?"

At me, he shone a smile that wobbled my legs at the sight. "Let's get going, baby." On the way past them, he nearly knocked Xander to the ground from how hard he bumped into his shoulder.

We walked to the register, where Luke had left my snacks. I already knew that he had gotten everything right, just as I him.

I glanced up to tease him, but paused at his stale expression.

I bumped into his side, teasing, "Be good, Luke." It came out playful, but everyone knew why it was meant to be said if they knew Luke.

"Me not going back to the isle to knock his ass out right this instant is me being good, but..." he held a frown, glancing between me and the isles. "Give me the word, and I'll go and get the matches for the fucker, yeah?"

The cashier casted him a startled look, and I matched it, kicking Luke in the foot. Hell.

Returning to the cashier's uneasiness, I smiled while placing my items down. "He was just kidding."

Luke snorted, thumbing out a couple of bills. "The hell I was."

I chuckled, locking my hand around his waist. "Peace, remember?"

Luke scowled, throwing a glare over his shoulder. I could see the idea growing in his head, so I cut it from its stem before it could grow any further.

"Come on." I squeezed his hand, again. "Let's get to the mountains before anything else, peaceful boy of mine."

His scowl only built as he took our bags from the cashier, but he broke it at my cheek kiss. I thanked the man with a smile, snatching my own bag from Luke.

Despite his grumpiness, I saw him fighting back a smile. I would make sure it grew before the end of the day, though.

Once we made it to the car, we exchanged snacks, and saw that we hadn't missed a thing for the other, of course.

When I glanced over to the parking lot, I recounted over the cars. There were only five there before, but now six. The sixth being Xander's.

I did find it strange. Coincidences did happen, but this one made my brain run an extra mile. Him and Quinn hadn't come in until after we did, and as I had mentioned, there were plenty of gas stations around, especially being this far from town. Why were they at this one? And, where had Quinn been at the beginning of Xander and I's conversation?

My head was beginning to hurt the longer the questions rolled around. Coincidences. That was what they were.

Sighing, I lifted a hand to massage at my temples. The doctor had told me to relax for the next couple of days, and me not doing it was making my head ache a bit.

Luke's worrisome eyes darted over to mine. "Hey." His hand lifted until he stroked it through my hair. "You okay, baby?"

My sigh flourished into a smile once I met his pretty eyes. The beat in my chest turned erratic just at the sight of them. Looking at him as a whole threatened it's entire blood flow. "I'm perfect."

His gaze softened at me, but he tried to hide it with a smirk. "I agree, Norris."

Rolling my eyes, I grasped his hand, and made way past the blush in my cheeks in order to say, "Let's get out of here."